Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-05-05
MICHIGAN LEGIsLATtRE.

minor bills were considered. AT Ia conference
OF Republican members, held in tho evening.
TO consider the subject OF liquor legislation,
there was apparent very wide difference OF
opinion. especially in regard TO the tax upon
druggists in the proposition TO make 1t equal to
that OF saloon-keepers, which was not favor
ably received The sentiment seemed to be In
favor OF a uniform tax throughout the State.
BorH houses Of the Legislature held brief
sessions on April IS, but ON account OF the
smallness OF the attendance the time was occu-
pied in committee OF the whole, and very little
business was transacted. The house agreed to
the bill to establish system OF fire insurance
by the State, The details are to be settled by
an Insurance Board, composed OF the Governor,
Attorney General, Secretary OF State, Auditor
General, and the Insurance Commissioner. The
bill sets apart 100000 as an insurance fund,
and the premiums are to be allowed TO accumu-
late till the fund reaches 81, ,00000 1t also pro-
vides for the election of township insurance
agents In each township and ward, who are to
be paid by commissions ON each policy.
THE Senate was in session but short time
on the Goth ult A few bills of minor import
ance were considered In committee Of the
whole. The trial OF Representative Milo Dakin,
of Saginaw, on the charge OF corruption and
malfeasance in office, was begun by the House
of Representatives. The accused was repre-
sented by f. L. Dodge, E. c. Holden. and Philip
T. Vanzil The charges preferred were solicit
ing money and stating that certain mem
bers could be bribed for specific sums.
The day was occupied in the examination OF
Fred l.: Eaton, OF Saginaw. Eaton swore that
himself and Jay Smith met Mr.. Dakin in the
lobby OF the first floor, at which time Dakin
stated, among other things. the following: Il
sent for Shackleton to come down here to bring
some money to put the bill through, but he
only brought ST. and that is nothing. /
think the committee Is all right, but we
need money with the members to get the bill
A0lNu I.nfA afn nnE nnE tNN LnII nNun
and Crowley ON the avenue, and they together
went into the Windsor saloon TO talk the
matter over. Eaton then asked Dakin the
following question: If we get favorable re-
port from the committee, is there any doubt Of
favorable action by the House?" To this Dakin
replied: Not II get what need. We we're out
last night until midnight with the boys seven
OF them, and spent considerable of the money,
but four Of them are solid for US now" At this
time Fellows remarked: II was promised some
money before came here, but no one gave me
any. had only SS2 in my pocket when I
started and it is all used up." Eaton then
asked Dakin: How much money will you
need?" He replied: Il can't tell until /
have begun to work and have made
a canvass. can not commence work
until get the money, for If should go TO a
man and talk to him and make him any prom
would go back on us. Eaton also asked: aIs
it prudent thing to be talking about the use
OF money!" "It is all right here" said Dakin.
1T is a regular thing. You need not appear In
the matter at all. You can give the money to
me or to Fellows, and 1t can be used by us.
There are thirty-four Grand Army members.
I'm pretty well acquainted with them. Ill 60
20 see any one of them, talk with him, and
II think best make an offer Of money. Mr..
Fellows can then pay them what is necessary
lis 1t customary here to see members with
money in this way?" ~Why, certainly" LET
us see what members will have to be seen.
Name them over. l had a roll-call and asked
Dakin to mark against the names the amounts
needed for each, Dakin did So" Being shown
list Eaton identified the list shown him as
nolfr bod a
over to Attorney Dodge, Of the defense, whose
examination proved that the plan of the de-
Tense was to show plot ON the part of Eaton 70
get Dakin and others into trouble to vent per-
sonal spite against them.
THE Senate held its regular session on the
9th ult but spent the entire time in commit
tee of the whole, forwarding largo number Of
bills to third reading. The House Of Represent
atives continued the inquiry into the charge
that Representative Dakin, Of Saginaw, So
1icted money to influence the passage OF
the Saginaw charter bill. The witnesses OK.
amined were Jay Smith, City Controller
Crowler. and Alderman Tillotson, all OF Sagi-
nav, and all OF whom corroborated ex-City At
torney Eatons testimony. Judge Holden open.
cd for the defense. He claimed that Dakin had
been more sinned against than SHINING; that
while he had done very stupid act he had not
Eaton had practically forced Dakin to
check off names on roll-call; that Eaton's
Tel6CLlOu Dy Iu0 DhBlnhW C1Jy COunc1l Wleu
renominated for City Attorney, a piece Of work
In which Dakin and his friend Fellows, then an
Alderman, participated, was the cause OF
Eaton's interest in the matter; and that Eaton
had been In Lansing not TO aid In passing the
charter bill, but to draw Dakin into a trap and
ruin him politically. Ex-Alderman Fellows was
placed ON the stand and stated IL was under
stood that money was to be used in entertain
ing members in a social way, and that none
OF 1t was to be used corruptly He had been
present at interviews held with Dakin, and at
fin1a had ANYTHING haan aafd In rafArap0a N
improperly influencing members. The defense
made strong use Of the point that in the Com
mittee ON Municipal Corporations was placard
reading I'VE smoke. II you don't, mp goes your
bill" Chairman Bates, of Allegan, explained
that this was intended as q fine upon tardy
members OF the committee, but had been ex.
tended so as to take In some outsiders. Certain
Detroit people had planked down silver dollars
TO obtain a hearing. The money was used to
buy cigars, Of which they themselves had
smoked their share.
THE Senate had a brief and proftless session
on the 2sth ult Three Thousand copies OF
the testimony in the graveyard insurance In.
vestigaton were ordered printed. The House
Of Representatives occupied itself exclusively
with the Dakin bribery investigation. The ac-
cused took the stand and testified in his own
defense. AS 70 the Eaton charges Dakin swore
Il got Eaton In the corridor of the Capitol He
said to Fellows, What Is the outlook for the
charterY Fellows said First-rate' Then
said Mayor Shackleford has gone back 10
Saginaw to get some money. 1 met Eaton
again about III o'clock ne ar the Windsor res
taurant Crowley and Fellows were present.
At the invitation of Eaton we went inside and
took a stall. Crowley called for the drinks.
Eaton says, We'll, Fellows, Stackleton didn't
bring your money! Fellows said No. Eaton
took a call from his pocket and says to me,
Now, Dakin, these friends you like to have a
good time with, just check them off, did so.
Then he says, How much will IL costp' but /
said i had no idea. Then he said: Get down
the amounts. / set them down as near as ]
could to tally with my Judgment The amounts
II he had not urged 1t 1 would not have
checked the list. i am not drinking
man, but occasionally take some wine.
That morning drank whiRly and quinine. as I
was feeling bad. and then sour wine twice.
The evident purpose OF the testimony was to
show that Dakin was half drunk at the time the
list was made; but Dakin continued, substan-
TALLY confirming the testimony Of Eaton and
Crowley, but insisting that the money was to be
used only for social purposes. "Did you expect
to corrupt the members of this House?' asked
Judge Holden, very gravely. "No. sirl" re-
sponded Dakin, with emphasis ON his words.
Judge Holden waited, so that the emphasis
might have full effect; but Dakin added, with n
laugh, Il think they are higher priced than that
Late at night the arguments were concluded
and the case submitted TO the House. By a
vote OF 81 10 IL IL was decided that he had en-
deevored to procure money from 4. L, Eaton
and John H. Stackleton, ostensibly TO corrupt
members, but really with view 70 appropriat-
ing TO his own use. OF the specific charges that
he had placed an estimated price after the
names OF fifteen membeys he was UNANIMOUSLY
found guilty, A resolution was then offered
that Dakin be expelled from the House, and 4
was adopted by unanimous vote, The hall
was crowded. and was absolutely quiet as the
Speaker announced that I'm view Of the vote he
must declare Milo II. Dakin expelled from the
floor OF the House aud from its privileges.
A PosTMAN who died lately in Ger
many had raoaivad n mansion for fflv-